How to deal with LJ: An "If I were Pioli ..." Fan Repository.
by JacinB on Oct 26, 2009 2:42 PM CDT
59 comments
There's been a lot of activity on the site today on what we should do with LJ. Cut him. Bench him. Suspend him. Let him and Haley go behind closed doors and hug it out. Regardless of which group you fall into, you likely have ideas of how you'd like to see the Chiefs' resident malcontent dealt with, particularly after his latest outburst.
Unfortunately, while we don't get to be the one making the final call on LJ's fate and ultimately don't get any input into how we would deal with him, we can (thanks to ArrowheadPride) each make an "If I were Pioli ..." statement about how we would solve this particular problem.
And, hey, putting them all here -- in one place -- allows us to see others' proposals without having them clog the conversations in other threads.
As for me? Well, my proposal is after the jump ...
If I were Pioli, I'd deal with LJ this way:
First I would suspend him immediately for four games for Conduct Detrimental to the Team. He made this about money, even going so far as to flaunt the fact that his fans were working for "$5 an hour." So, I would make this about money, too; if he's suspenDed, he doesn’t get paid.
Then, I would instruct Haley that LJ Is to be put on the Game Day Inactives list every week for the remainder of his contract. The reason for this is simple: A lot of his contract is built on incentives. If he doesn’t play, he doesn’t get them.
Any time he mouths off during that career-ending benching (because, really, who's going to want him two years down the road?), he gets moved back to the Suspended list and he loses more money. Let's face it, he's too dumb not to do it. This incident (and others throughout this season) proves that.
But, I hear you saying, this just frees him up to do whatever he wants.
No, it doesn't. Just because he's benched doesn't mean that you don't still make him come to practice. Failure to show up to practice comes with a fine, meaning that you get more of your money back. Having to be at practice every day keeps him from being able to jet off to New York or Vegas during the week without it costing him. And, if he misses more than a single practice? Suspended.
This solution does a number of things:
1) It keeps him here, in Kansas City, until the end of his career. That prevents him from "winning" by complaining his way out of town. Cutting him just lets him go somewhere else while we eat a big chunk of money for his contract.
2) It prevents him from breaking Priest Holmes' record(s). That was what LJ was aiming for this season. It's what means the most to him at this point.
3) It keeps us from having to pay the bulk of his contract. He doesn't get paid when he's suspended. He doesn't get paid for the incentives he doesn't reach. Yes, we'd still be forking over a lot of cash for the guaranteed part of his contract but, as I recall, we've got a bit of money that we still need to spend.
4) If, on the off chance that this punishment actually gets to him, if he actually sees the light and changes his ways (as we all thought he might've at the beginning of the season), he can be put back on the team -- on the third string, of course.
So, what say you? If you were Pioli, how would you deal with LJ?
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Arrowhead Pride's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Arrowhead Pride writers or editors.
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I have a tear in my eye JacinB
I wish someone would fax this directly to Pioli. The plan is beautiful. Rec’d.
by jk86 on Oct 26, 2009 2:52 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Agree +4
a Damn Fine plan IMO
We Will kick at least 4 Teams Asses in 09
And Succop will be the Key in two of them.
" Think and talk positive football off the field." Hank Stram
by Steve_Chiefs on Oct 26, 2009 5:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
+1
I love it! Better than my idea. Hope Pioli visits AP, and checks out this blog.
by ChiefsFan90s on Oct 27, 2009 11:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I wouldn't let him practice...
He is likely more of a negative to the attitude of this team than even his teammated realize. I want him out of KC, the sooner the better!
by Allen69 on Oct 26, 2009 2:57 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
j/k Use him as a tackling dummy
seriously – he would fake an injury and ask for a settlement.
by TonyG88 on Oct 26, 2009 3:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Just have him run laps.
I'm officially on the 'Draft Eric Berry' train.
by scottbwalters on Oct 26, 2009 8:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
this is exactly my concern
The $ cost of lost money resulting from shipping this idiot out of town is much less than the cost of him infecting the entire team for the rest of the year.
Air Cassel - approved for takeoff
by kabrink on Oct 30, 2009 8:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
perfection! and as an added bonus, I hereby rec you to Goodell to be ...
Executive Vice Director of Player Punishment and Rehabilitation
Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisiton!
by upamtn on Oct 26, 2009 3:05 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
The biggest problem with your argument
is that LJ will continue to be a cancer in the locker room, this team doesn’t need him around. This front office isn’t looking at hima nd saying “Oh no he is a jerk that might break Priest’s record”, in fact they could give a shit about that. Only the fans will care who holds the record. Yes this is a great plan to stick it to him, but once again that’s not what a professional football front office is going to do (it will take the professionalism away form their jobs). He might face a suspension or release but nothing beyond that.
"The spirit, the will to win, and the will to excel are the things that endure. These qualities are so much more important than the events that occur." - Vince Lombardi
by Shawn on Oct 26, 2009 3:09 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Just to be clear
The first part of your post is dead on "First I would suspend him immediately for four games for Conduct Detrimental to the Team. He made this about money, even going so far as to flaunt the fact that his fans were working for “$5 an hour.” So, I would make this about money, too; if he’s suspened, he doesn’t get paid." I just disagree that he will face more than a suspension and or release. Great post JacinB.
"The spirit, the will to win, and the will to excel are the things that endure. These qualities are so much more important than the events that occur." - Vince Lombardi
by Shawn on Oct 26, 2009 3:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Answer to the problem
let him pop off in the locker room or on the practice field and make sure someone has a video camera on him at all times, as soon as he says or does something that is detrimental to the team we can nail him all over again and keep fining him thus helping the team recoup as much money as possible. In time he will figure out it is better to just keep his mouth shut and not to tweet.
is it me? or isn't about time the Lamar Hunt trophy belonged to His team?
I’m a Chiefs fan Dammit and I’m damn proud of it!
by KC Fanatic on Oct 26, 2009 3:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
cut him immediately
period.
You can’t act like this.
You aren’t even performing well
don’t let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya
* "I doubt anyone will miss Connor Barth except UCrawford"
* the LB corps may become the biggest strength of the Chiefs in 2009
* The OL is NOT as bad as you think it is... give it time, and you'll see improvement this season
by stagdsp on Oct 26, 2009 3:36 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I'd prefer to have some level of control over where he lands.
by JacinB on Oct 27, 2009 8:56 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
why?
are you worried he’ll run for 30yds against KC?
* "I doubt anyone will miss Connor Barth except UCrawford"
* the LB corps may become the biggest strength of the Chiefs in 2009
* The OL is NOT as bad as you think it is... give it time, and you'll see improvement this season
by stagdsp on Oct 27, 2009 9:03 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
lol
I be embrasses to give him 10.
by ChiefsFan90s on Oct 27, 2009 11:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not really.
There’s a part of me that keeps saying that he runs best when he’s angry and, after everything that’s happened here, there’s no doubt that he could gin up some anger against Kansas City (though, I think Corey Mays is the run-stuffing answer to has-been Running Backs and wouldn’t have any problems with LJ).
I, personally, think LJ is done in the NFL. I think Marty is right. LJ doesn’t have the talent level to justify the headaches that come with him. On top of that, he is a 30-year-old, 2.7 yard-per-carry back whose taken too many hits.
I realize, however, that there are also a lot of desperate teams out there willing to take a shot. Tampa Bay. Washington. We may not get anything great out of him, but if we could get anything out of him and make sure that he was going somewhere that we wouldn’t ever have to see him again, I would rather do that than simply drop him.
by JacinB on Oct 28, 2009 9:15 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe we could trade him to Canada for a case of Molson.
He might actually be productive in the CFL. He could join Casey Printers’ team.
by JacinB on Oct 28, 2009 9:16 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'd keep him on the team
Let him toil on special teams covering punts and kicks for the next 2-3 years.
I ♥ Dick Vermeil
by craig in calgary on Oct 26, 2009 3:42 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
he simply wont do it
if he gets demoted to 3rd string you think hes actually going to give a damn while hes on the field? nope
A man who says he can, and a man who says he can't are both right. Which one are you?
by Bashman on Oct 26, 2009 11:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I had to to rec this.
Simply beautiful. I couldn’t say it any better.
Bowe and Wade FTW.
When you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail.
by NJChieffan16 on Oct 26, 2009 3:55 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
As I've said before
I’d Keyshawn him. Send him home away from the team. Don’t let him break Priest’s record. Don’t let him earn extra incentives. Don’t let him go somewhere else and talk trash on us. Just take your base salary for the rest of the year and go away. Then cut him in the offseason.
It's a good thing Pioli and Haley aren't running AP or a lot of you guys would of been traded or cut for cast offs from the Pats Pulpit.
by KCporkchop on Oct 26, 2009 4:00 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Or
tie him up in the basement somewhere under Arrowhead and let Haley go at him with a sock full of quarters.
Either way.
It's a good thing Pioli and Haley aren't running AP or a lot of you guys would of been traded or cut for cast offs from the Pats Pulpit.
by KCporkchop on Oct 26, 2009 4:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
If...
anyone publicly threw their boss under the bus what would happen?
Then taunt people about their paycheck?
I can respect the “don’t cut him” philosophy, but having LJ anywhere near the Chiefs facilities at this point IS detrimental to the progress of the Kansas City Chiefs.
[img]http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0eTH2sm73rf3u/610x.jpg[/img]
by Peterman700 on Oct 26, 2009 4:31 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Agreed
Essentially what I posted in an earlier thread, as well as what I saw some other people posting. The bottom line is he directly insulted the fans, when they called him out on being an assclown. But no, this wasn’t enough for this worthless sack of poop; he actually believes fans have nothing to do with his success, when the reality is he would be less than nothing without us.
He went too far this time, and anything but a complete release from the NFL after this season will result in a boycott of the entire League until he does. This is coming from someone who attends at least one game a season for the past 20 years. I won’t support this crap another second, and this League won’t get another dime from me.
Fans across the League should be in a rage and calling for him immediate removal based on this behavior, especially in light of his history. It is simply unacceptable on so many levels.
In wondrous beauty, once again, shall the golden tables stand mid the grass, which the gods had owned in the days of old.
by Chiefs_Ragnarok on Oct 26, 2009 5:03 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
couple of points
he actually believes fans have nothing to do with his success, when the reality is he would be less than nothing without us.
We didn’t have anything to do with his success. He was a good enough runner without us to play at Penn St and make it in the NFL.
anything but a complete release from the NFL after this season will result in a boycott of the entire League
This is pretty ridiculous and extreme. He won’t be released from the league for insubordination or insulting gays if the NFL is happy to carry murderers, dog killers, and rapists.
Fans across the League should be in a rage
Most of them don’t know where KC is and don’t care.
Air Cassel - approved for takeoff
by kabrink on Oct 30, 2009 9:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
There is nothing in the world
as stupid of an idea as wasting a roster spot and paying someone you will never play for multiple years….Just as dumb an idea as it gets
Then, I would instruct Haley that LJ Is to be put on the Game Day Inactives list every week for the remainder of his contract.
Predictions for 2009:
LJ runs for 1800 yards
Bowe in the pro bowl
Chiefs D finishes in the top 10 in points allowed
Chiefs 10-6
by bonesjackson on Oct 26, 2009 5:36 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Grievance
I’m not sure the Chiefs could deactivate him every game rest of his contract anyway. At some point the NFLPA would file a grievance.
I've contracted a particularly virulent form of the R2D2 asshat virus. Please wash eyeballs & keyboard after contact.
by chiefstatnut on Oct 26, 2009 5:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I dont think they would win a grievance....
But non the less, it wouldn’t make sense and only hate would cause someone to do something like that and I think the Chiefs are a little too professional to do something that stupid out of spite.
Predictions for 2009:
LJ runs for 1800 yards
Bowe in the pro bowl
Chiefs D finishes in the top 10 in points allowed
Chiefs 10-6
by bonesjackson on Oct 26, 2009 5:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
There's always one...
Watching the 2009-2010 Chiefs 12 hours ahead of you (in Taipei, Taiwan).
Twittering my every move. Don't act like you're not even slightly interested.
by webby37 on Oct 26, 2009 6:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Your way of "dealing"
with LJ is just as childish as the way he has acted. Going out of your way to fine/suspent/HARASS him is no different behavior than what he has done. He should have been cut by Peterson rather than given a huge contract to begin with. Cut him and be done with the whole thing, stop acting like children.
by Tooner on Oct 26, 2009 5:45 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
This is closer to my way of thinking, Tooner.
No question. Otis Taylor should be in the Hall of Fame.
by hmills110 on Oct 31, 2009 11:06 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Just cut him.
Don't forget to be an AP-vangelist...Tell A Friend...
by woodman212 on Oct 26, 2009 6:53 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I’d say suspend him/inactivate him for the remainder of the year. Wait until the offseason and move him for a bag of peanuts, whatever it takes to choose the destination team. Send him to the Lions.
I'm officially on the 'Draft Eric Berry' train.
by scottbwalters on Oct 26, 2009 8:54 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Pioli have found an assistant
JacinB – you should seriously email your suggestion to the GM of Kansas City Football Club.
Predictions as of 06.24.2009.
Larry Johnson will be a top 3 fantasy pick once again in 2010 (after a monster season in 2009.)
Dwayne Bowe will be a 2009 Pro Bowl selection.
Brandon Flowers will have at least 6 INTs in 2009 season.
Todd Haley will have a sideline shouting match caught on TV yelling at one of his asst. coaches.
by 58 was my friend on Oct 26, 2009 9:56 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
How does this incident affect LJ's contract?
Does it nullify it? Can the Chiefs cut him and owe him no money? Clearly money is very important to LJ’s sense of self-worth and it would be awesome if they cut him outright and cut him off financially.
Toby is in HR, which technically means he works for corporate, so he's really not a part of our family. Also, he's divorced, so he's really not a part of his family.
by Rev. Slappy on Oct 26, 2009 10:54 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
thats exactly what i was wondering
…seems to me the Chiefs shouldnt have to feel the pain of cutting him and taking a big hit. Its like if I did the same thing at work then they gave me several months pay for it.
a suspension (even a 1 gamer) at least sends some sort of message. Just dont let it slide or everyone will think you are a push over haley!
A man who says he can, and a man who says he can't are both right. Which one are you?
by Bashman on Oct 26, 2009 11:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Actually...
Don't forget to be an AP-vangelist...Tell A Friend...
by woodman212 on Oct 27, 2009 12:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
If I recall correctly.
His previous run-ins with the law and his off-the-field behavior was determined, by the Special Master or whatever in arbitration, to have voided the guaranteed part of his contract. They are currently paying him something along the lines of $600,000 per game.
I’m not sure, however, how much of that we would be on the hook for if we cut him.
by JacinB on Oct 27, 2009 8:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Just wondering ...
Is his shirt supposed to be in 3D or is that just a really crappy plaid?
by JacinB on Oct 27, 2009 8:55 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
too bad the nfl outlawed wedges...
you demote him to special teams… he’s the wedge breaker on kickoffs, and he’s part of it on returns…. physical punishment is what is in order…
by callmesir on Oct 27, 2009 1:41 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
The Eagles did a good job with TO...
Haley will do something very close to what they did.
by idahochieffan on Oct 27, 2009 9:42 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Since im in the Military I just had an Idea
Put his ass through 3 basic training courses right in a row
maybe then he will learn some respect and learn to keep his mouth shut and im not talking basic training like now im talking old school basic where if you talked when you werent supposed to they beat the crap out of you after all that he would be to afraid to talk
Check out the gun show over here FIYA POWA
by redmedicone on Oct 27, 2009 10:51 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Heck...
If we’re going to take that route, send him out to Coronado and put him through BUD/S. Assuming he lives (ie. doesn’t mouth off and have an instructor kill him) there’s no way he doesn’t get the point, plus he’s ready to vaporize anybody who crosses his path on the field.
by Archyrr on Oct 27, 2009 3:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Why only 3?
Could we make it 10 for every stupid thought that comes into LJ’s head? That should rip the diapers off eventually.
by ChiefsFan90s on Oct 28, 2009 12:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Like the post
but keeping him around gives him the chance to ruin a locker room also.
by chiefs316 on Oct 28, 2009 11:24 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I really don't understand the angst
based on the idea that LJ will go to another team and do well.
First, MOST teams will stay away from this idiot like kryptonite. I agree that some team desperate for RB help might likely pick him up. I also think that if they have a better OL and overall offense he will do better than he is here. But, better is relative. This guy is not going to do really well under any circumstance. I think he is really done. Let him go embarrass himself elsewhere.
Air Cassel - approved for takeoff
by kabrink on Oct 30, 2009 9:14 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
There's gotta be some motive other than just wanting bad things to happen to a guy...
No question. Otis Taylor should be in the Hall of Fame.
by hmills110 on Oct 31, 2009 11:08 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
not following you
My point is that we shouldn’t let “fear of LJ doing well somewhere else” prevent us from cutting him, if that’s what we want to do. We shouldn’t care if he does well somewhere else other than if he’s likely to play against us.
Air Cassel - approved for takeoff
by kabrink on Oct 31, 2009 12:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
incentives...
A lot of his contract is built on incentives. If he doesn’t play, he doesn’t get them.
Well… if he plays he still doesn’t get a lot of them the way he’s performed this season. :-)
I understand there are games played and number of carries incentives etc. but just saying.
by Lucasjr5 on Oct 31, 2009 8:06 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
What you're overlooking...
… is the kind of message this sends to all the FAs KC might want to acquire in the future, or players they might want to retain in the future. And I think the league is well aware of the finer points of this matter and doesn’t want schoolboy behavior to get ANY traction.
The org should be very careful how they go about this. Don’t want to be adversarial or punitive. OTOH, some sincere hand-wringing on behalf of those who might’ve been hurt by LJ’s actions wouldn’t hurt. Better yet, inflict some mandated sensitivity counseling on LJ. Try to HELP him. Might be the thing he’d hate the most, while still earning the organization a gold star for its compassion and sensitivity.
I do agree on strajetizing to prevent the Vegas pleasure trip thing. OTOH, rather than trying to control the guy, the best thing might be just to give him enough rope to hang himself. And go ahead and put him back on the field, and give red capes and Mickey Mouse beanies to every o-lineman. See if maybe you can get that 2.7 down to a 1.7 by season-end. Let him break Priest’s record (or edge farther away from it) under the same (awful) conditions he’s been facing right along, and scratch your head and mumble something about how you just don’t understand what the problem is up front…
And I’m not sure that the fine print on agreements made after previous incidents don’t include sanctions that redound to LJ’s disadvantage. Whatever sanctions are available, the org. should at least show regret at imposing them, for the good of the team, and, if they can spin it right, for the good of the player and all of mankind. (nudge. wink.)
No question. Otis Taylor should be in the Hall of Fame.
by hmills110 on Oct 31, 2009 11:29 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
this sums up how i feel about it perfectly.
basically we are going to have to pay him money no matter what if we cut him his salary for this season is guaranteed because he was on the opening day roster. yes they took some of his upfront guaranteed money in the offseason but he still is due around 4.5 million if we cut him. why give him that money and then let him go get more money from someone else.
and besides i want him there to see my new L.J. 2.7 jersey
by Bleedzredngold on Oct 31, 2009 10:42 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
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